MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State football team is now just a few days away from Thursday's season-opener against visiting Central Connecticut State (7 p.m.). The 2018 edition will be heavy on local flavor as three Delaware County natives are projected as starters, according to the first depth chart released on Sunday afternoon.

There are five players from East Central Indiana schools on this season's roster and 44 from Indiana overall. Here is what to expect from each local player this season, with some additional thoughts on the depth chart at the bottom of the story.

The redshirt junior had a breakthrough season in 2017, starting 10 games and earning a scholarship. When the other two starting receivers (Corey Lacanaria and Jordan Hogue) combined to play just five games, Miller took full advantage in finishing second on the team in receptions (30) and receiving yards (300).

With Lacanaria back (and looking like he is primed for a big season) and the wide receiver position looking like one of the team's deeper groups with several young wide receivers looking to emerge, what to make of Miller's role? It probably won't change too much, especially considering his chemistry with quarterback Riley Neal, a fellow Yorktown graduate.

Then there's this. When I asked starting cornerback Marc Walton for his opinion on route-running and who is the toughest Ball State wideout to cover, here was his response.

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Neal is back as the starting quarterback after missing the final nine games of 2017. He enters his redshirt junior season as the program's fifth all-time leading passer.

While Neal has been good so far in his Ball State career, he is looking to take that next step this season into an All-MAC caliber quarterback. He had a solid training camp with minimal mistakes. He also probably benefited from scrimmaging against what may be the fastest defense Ball State has had in Neal's tenure. Look for him to use Justin Hall and Lacanaria as his primary weapons in the middle of the field, and then tight end Nolan Givan in the red zone.

Slaven is the projected starter at left tackle for the second consecutive season. The 6-foot-4, 284-pound redshirt sophomore established himself last season in starting the first nine games before he sustained a broken left foot that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He will be tasked with shielding Neal's blindside and opening up holes for Ball State's stable of running backs in James Gilbert, Caleb Huntley, Malik Dunner and Markice Hurt Jr.

Anthony Todd (Yorktown)

After redshirting in 2016 and not appearing in any games in 2017, Todd appears poised to see his first action as a Cardinal. He is listed as Slaven's backup at left tackle and could slide in elsewhere on the line.

Tucker Young (Monroe Central)

Like Todd, Young was a two-time All-State selection in high school and will have to bide his time on the offensive line. Young isn't expected to see game action this season.

Other depth chart thoughts:

•Drew Plitt has held off Texas A&M transfer Hank Hughes as the No. 2 quarterback. Plitt performed well considering the circumstances in starting three games at the end of last season.

•Alex Joss is listed as the starting left guard, but he was sidelined for all of training camp. He tore his ACL in the season opener last season at Illinois and has been out since. He was hoping to be cleared over the weekend and if he is, Neu said there is a chance he will play Thursday. They will likely work him back in slowly, though.

•After finishing the season strong and being listed as a starting wideout during the spring, Khalil Newton is not on the most recent depth chart at all. That could be due to the emergence of sophomore Hassan Littles and freshman Yo'Heinz Tyler and Nebraska graduate transfer Keyan Williams, all of whom are listed as backups.